Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

This kind of restless emotion made Viviana feel both painful and somewhat enjoyable.

Maybe love is such a sweet and painful thing. When she was just starting out, she met such a good person. Viviana felt that if she could turn back time, she would definitely come to her side when they first met, when Miss Noah was still alone, earlier than anyone else, and become her pillar, instead of being like now, worrying about everything, afraid of losing something, and living in fear.

The lipstick on her finger was actually a gift from Noah to her. She put on lipstick on purpose because she usually doesn't wear makeup when she goes out - only when she goes out with Noah will she pay so much attention to her makeup.

After all... this is a date...

It was different from the past, when Noah was more likely to accompany her to see things she liked, but now, it was Noah who took the initiative to invite her here. For Viviana, the meaning of this was completely different.

Unfortunately... Noah does not belong to me. I have seen the beauty of Noah, but I cannot steal it away. That unwillingness turned into a touch of tenderness in the girl's eyes, slowly melting in my heart. I think I will never forget the taste of this cake, right?

Noah could sense Viviana's mood swings, but she only felt a sour taste, like lemonade that had been left out for too long. Her ability could easily uncover other people's secrets, but faced with the layers of a girl's thoughts, even her most sensitive abilities could only retreat. The alternating sour and sweet tastes left Noah wondering—was this happiness? Or was it unhappiness?

Fortunately, Viviana and Noah were quickly attracted by the opening music. The musicians invited to this performance were all famous musicians from Leithnia, and the first performance started with a piano performance.

Noah was also adept at playing the piano, and this time the performer was an Elafia—William Fichte Czerny, an outstanding musician from the Leithanian Sunset District, who had been invited to perform at the Vedina Music Hall. In Sunset District, Czerny's name was a household name, a source of pride for the people.

His fingers were exceptionally long, allowing him to easily reach keys spanning eleven degrees. Consequently, many of his pieces are often quite challenging to play. Even so, this doesn't stop the people of Xizhao District from passionately playing his masterpieces day after day. Late at night in Xizhao District, his lullabies accompany young children by their cradles, his serenades dance lovers embrace beneath streetlights, and his requiems accompany elderly faces passing away peacefully beside their coffins. Suffering from oripathy, Czerny rarely left home, but every note he penned carries with it the footsteps of those who carry it, crossing thousands of miles of mountains and surging rivers, reaching even greater distances.

This great musician had been seriously injured in a previous incident and hadn't performed for a long time. Today was his comeback performance, and the title alone was enough to make many people look forward to it.

Many people were discussing whether this great musician had lost his original spirituality due to his injury, but the moment the music was played, people's doubts disappeared.

Notes flowed smoothly from his fingertips like flowing water, like the gurgling of a spring, or like melting ice and snow - this song is Leitania's most famous piece in recent times, and many people immediately entered the world of music, intoxicated by it.

But Noah was stunned——

“…Why this song?”

"...Hmm? Noah? Have you heard of this song?" Viviana looked at Noah in surprise. "I thought this song was only popular in Leitania."

"...Yeragond..."

"what?"

"The name of this song..." Noah whispered, "I actually heard this song here..."

"...No one has ever known the name of this song. How did you know it, Noah?" Viviana only remembered that this song had no name when it appeared in Leitania. It was called [Unknown Music]. At first, it was thought that it was a song released by a big shot under a pseudonym. As a result, no one came out to acknowledge the ownership of this song, so this song is still [Unknown].

“…Well…”

Noah smiled awkwardly.

——Because I wrote this song, and it’s not the complete version yet.

When Noa was writing "Yeragund", she wrote several manuscripts. It took her a long time to complete this song. The complete version was in her mind. She basically only let Yela and her teacher play it. Those manuscripts were also lost when she was imprisoned by Abrana. After all, she had to carry as few things as possible with her at that time. So... that means it might be that Abrana went out for a walk?

Noah was a little confused. She didn't expect to hear her own music in such a place. It was called something like "Unknown Music" - it was a bit embarrassing.

However, it is obvious that the performer of the music has been completely immersed in the artistic conception of this piece of music. Every note is full of divinity, as if he is looking down from the top of a snowy mountain and seeing the people living and working in peace and contentment, as if he is in a snowy land in a foreign country. People who listen to this piece of music are even more mesmerized. Although this piece of music is called an unnamed piece, its status is quite high. It can be said to be the most surprising piece of music in recent years.

Many people are speculating about which big shot's work this is, and some even speculate that it is a draft by a deceased person. After all, many people have pointed out that this song obviously has room for improvement and is likely just a draft.

But no matter what, probably no one could have imagined that the composer of this song is now in this concert hall, listening to the song he composed with a confused look on his face.

The power of music is great. As soon as the song was over, thunderous applause and cheers rang out in the concert hall. This was fully qualified as Mr. Czerny's first performance after his comeback. It was a perfect performance, perfect music, and perfect performers. No matter from which angle, it was enough to make people stand up and applaud excitedly.

But it wasn't just Noah who had mixed feelings. There was also a Mr. Franz standing in the stands, or rather, Mr. Count Utica.

At the beginning, although many people did not know it, when the concert hall, Czerny, and piano were put together, it could almost be called his psychological shadow. He, who was called the Black Keys on Rhode Island, had participated in a performance hosted by Czerny. However, there was an accident in this performance, an accident that Franz still cannot forget.

"—I didn't expect to see you here, Mr. Franz."

Beside him, a young man with a long sword on his back spoke.

"What? What happened?"

"...Shut up." Franz closed his eyes. "I know you're here to find me for no good reason, but now... I want you to be quiet."

Chapter 27: Same Kind

What is the most embarrassing thing in the world? Noah felt very uncomfortable sitting in the VIP seat. She had to admit that Czerny's level was higher than hers in terms of playing skills. She just had some advantages in Originium skills. After all, Noah was a type who specialized in this area, but her talent points were not in playing. Although her playing level was not bad, most of it was just the foundation she laid when she was a child.

Noya's musical abilities are largely based on her childhood foundation and innate talent, so naturally, she can't be compared to masters who have immersed themselves in the art. However, she does have her own strengths, namely her composing abilities, which can be considered a natural talent. There are no shortcuts in this area. If there is a shortcut, it would probably be Noya's ability to listen to everything.

Whether it is "Yeragunde" or "Don Quixote", the essence of Noah is that he listened to the sounds of the city and then extracted the essence from them to compose the music, so in a sense it was a masterpiece.

After the performance, Noya couldn't help but applaud, a tribute to Czerny's exceptional technique. Though awkward, Noya didn't mind the piece becoming so well-known. Rather, creators simply want their work to be praised, even someone like Noya. This is a universal trait among creators, regardless of their field.

"It's truly a beautiful performance," Viviana praised sincerely. "Technically, there's no room for criticism. No one can find any fault. You're truly worthy of being Maestro Czerny."

"Indeed, technically speaking, that's the case..." Noya nodded. But then again, this piece was just a rough draft, and she really wanted to hear how wonderful Mr. Czerny's complete version of 'Yeragon' would sound. Noya admitted she couldn't perform to Czerny's level, so she was still curious. "It's truly worthy of being the highest-level concert in Leithania."

Leitania is the capital of music. Perhaps Noah has only now realized how valuable this music capital is. She has heard high-level music performances in Casimir, but she has never felt the shock like the Leitania concert.

——It would be great if everyone could watch a performance like this together. Maria would definitely like it.

She couldn't help but think, but as she sighed like this, she also unconsciously looked in the direction of Mace. After all, Mace was also a Leitanian - could he also play some musical instrument?

"If that's what you like, I'm better at percussion."

“…It’s not made up of screams, is it?”

"That depends on the occasion. Sometimes the sound of broken bones can be quite pleasant." Mace was joking, but Noah couldn't laugh. After all, Mace was really capable of such a thing. This man could ride on an avalanche on a snowy mountain, using the avalanche as a wave to surf. Probably only a monster with extraordinary martial arts skills like Mace could do that.

"Ms. Mace is quite humorous." Viviana also laughed, "But I don't know how to play any musical instruments. After all, I haven't been in Leitania for long."

"It's okay, Viviana, you have a very good voice. With just a little practice, you will probably be able to become an excellent soprano." Noah is very good at discovering the strengths of others. When they first met, Noah realized how unique Viviana's voice was. Compared to musical instruments that require a lot of practice, the lead singer's job basically depends entirely on innate conditions, and Viviana's innate conditions are very good. Her voice is melodious and pleasant, which is the voice that many singers dream of.

"The voice is also an instrument, Viviana, and you're so beautiful, what is there to worry about?"

Viviana blushed slightly as she listened to Noah's praise and lowered her head, "It's not as good as you say..."

The atmosphere here is very good, but it is completely different in the backstage of Loris. He has already chased away many people who intended to use the locker room in disguise. This will definitely not last long. The speed at which women put on makeup and change clothes is really worrying. Even a gentleman like Loris now wants to kick the door open and kick Arturo out. It has been so long. If he is discovered to have released someone without permission, he will be doomed.

He knocked on the door twice and asked, "Are you done? I can't stand it anymore."

"Don't worry." Arturo sat at the dressing table and combed his hair. "For a woman, dressing is very important."

"You're too slow..." Loris complained, "I'm beginning to doubt the rationality of joining you in causing trouble."

"I didn't use my Originium skills to influence you. After all, it was you who decided to join me in doing something big, wasn't it?" Arturo finally stood up from the dressing table, picked up the bow beside him, and said with a smile, "How is it?"

Loris sized Arturo up and down. He had to admit, while this Sacottan woman was indeed a lunatic, her appearance alone was practically a masterpiece of the gods. Her delicately sculpted eyebrows and flowing black hair, along with her halo and wings, added a touch of divinity. Her nearly all-black evening gown made her appear like a mysterious flower in the darkness.

But this flower may not only have thorns, but also be poisonous——

She came to Loris with her cello and bow and smiled. "How is it? Are you stunned?"

"...I just think you are really dangerous."

"I'm often described like this, even by distant relatives. I'm a dangerous person." Arturo didn't mind the description at all, and his smile widened. "But I don't think I'm dangerous. I just want people to face their hearts and not ignore the power of their hearts. Only by facing their hearts and not being bound by anything can I play... everyone's heart."

When the performance reached the middle, after the band left the stage, the audience cheered and applauded continuously. There was no doubt that this was a musical festival and a rare experience for anyone.

"Perfect, this is true music," the paunchy nobleman lavished praise, feigning an air of ecstasy. "It's just like you, beautiful Lady Mary. Your charm is like this concert. I know you've been feeling sad since your husband's passing. I'm sure you need the nourishment of love. My Lady Mary, would you be willing to spend this evening with me..."

"Sir Hart, you're such a sweetheart." The obese woman with ten rings on her hand smiled and shook her red wine glass. "You have such good taste. This concert was such a pleasure. Oh~ After the concert, I'll leave a door open for you in my mansion~"

"That's great—come on, Ms. Mary~"

In fact, neither of them was a music connoisseur, but one of them was a wealthy widow and the other a nouveau riche aristocrat. They had always been secretly in acquaintance with each other, and the concert was just a catalyst.

Just before they kissed, the lights in the theater suddenly went out, plunging the entire concert hall into darkness. This sudden change clearly frightened the fragile heart of Lady Mary, causing their kiss to turn into a tooth-to-teeth clash. Both of them let out two cries of pain, and Sir Hart immediately slammed the table and stood up, "What's going on?! The power went out at this time! What are you doing!"

What he felt bad about, of course, was the ticket he had bought at a high price from a Fengti merchant. He had finally created the right atmosphere and was just about to take the final step, but something unexpected happened.

He was so angry that his teeth were itching and he started cursing immediately.

Anxiety, panic, anger, confusion, all kinds of emotions were brewing in the audience. At this time, not only the nobles and wealthy businessmen who paid a lot of money to enter the venue had gloomy faces, but a masked gentleman sitting in the VIP seats also looked dissatisfied.

"what happened?"

"It seems like there's a power outage. A staff member has gone to fix it, but because the power outage is so widespread, so—"

"Waste..." The masked man said with a sullen face, "If the power is not restored within three minutes, you know the consequences."

"Yes!" Several attendants also left the box. In the darkness, only the masked man's eyes shone. Suddenly, a faint light shone on the stage. At first, people only saw a glowing halo. Then, a cloak fell, and the broken wings in the darkness were like a bright lamp, attracting everyone's attention.

——Isn’t the performance over?

People were puzzled. And, halo? Why halo? Could it be a performance effect?

People couldn't help but speculate, after all, this is the Victoria Music Hall, anything can happen, maybe this is a new art form?

But without an amplifier, how can the performer perform?

Soon, their doubts were resolved. Loris walked into the control room, knocked everyone unconscious, and according to Arturo, partially restored the power to the concert hall. At that moment, a stage light suddenly lit up, and beneath it was Arturo, who was slowly being lifted to a higher position by a lift.

People couldn't help but suffocate, but this performance was obviously not arranged by the masked man. He was probably the person with the worst expression here.

Noah recognized Arturo, and she didn't know why she was there. Viviana also recognized Arturo, but her reaction was much greater.

"She should be in jail!" Viviana stood up suddenly, "This is impossible!"

"What's wrong? Viviana?" Noah was surprised by Viviana's reaction. After all, in her impression, Arturo was just a musician. Although it was a bit unexpected that he appeared here, it was also reasonable.

"She's a dangerous wanted criminal! Arturo! She turned herself in a few days ago, saying she's a member of the Witch King's Echo and asked to go to prison!" Viviana could only briefly explain, "No, I'm going to arrest her! It's too dangerous! Asking her to play the piece is dangerous in itself!"

"I think... it might be too late." Noah looked at Arturo on the stage who seemed to be looking at her from a distance, and suddenly realized where her ticket came from.

——From the very beginning, Arturo had his eyes on this concert.

Rather, she had been waiting for this opportunity, for this grand performance. As she played, she sang softly. The music and her voice, fueled by her Originium skills and aided by the hall's unique structure, reverberated throughout the entire hall. It was Arturo's performance, his singing, the madman's wild dance, the speech of the honest.

The structure of the Vedina Concert Hall is very special. It is a design that originated from the era of the Sorcerer King. The prototype is the special array that the Sorcerer King used to amplify the Originium skills during the Battle of the Four Emperors. People discovered that this array itself has other functions besides amplifying the power of Originium skills, such as amplifying the appeal of music. Now, Arturo is using the original function of this array to amplify his Originium skills and convey his voice to everyone's heart through the structure of the Vedina Concert Hall.

She is like a gentle teacher, kindly asking about your pain, understanding your helplessness, and resolving your confusion. Her gentle voice soothes everyone's soul, allowing those things originally attached to your soul to be dissolved bit by bit. You can be redeemed, you deserve to be redeemed, you just need to face your heart bravely, reduce your psychological burden, focus on the present, and look to the future.

However, when those heavy things were melted away by the notes, and people felt relieved in their hearts, her music did not stop.

If she was a gentle nun before, then she is a devil whispering in your ear next.

She tells you—

"Now, face your heart, face your ugliness, face your sins."

"I have helped you get rid of those unnecessary constraints—"

You feel like you are thrown into the middle of a frenzied dance floor, with no light around. Everyone is dancing and wearing masks, and she comes to your side and gently takes off the mask.

Then - you find all the faces of the people, all looking at you, they are laughing, they are crying, they are angry, they are afraid -

Ecstasy, as bright as gold.

Her playing can touch your heart and analyze your emotions. She is like a skilled anatomist who can take out your heart, liver, intestines and lungs intact, and then tell you with a smile.

They are all you.

They are all your seven emotions and six desires.

You have nowhere to escape, you have to face it.

And facing this farce, the devil who caused it all, compose your emotions into a song——

"Come, join the revelry—my saint, my sinner—"

"My—kind."

Chapter 28: Qin Duel

The performance continued, but Noya had already sensed something strange. Indeed, she and Arturo were both masters of the same Originium technique, but compared to her ability to feel emotions, weave her inner thoughts, control and influence her flow of thoughts, and replicate her consciousness, Arturo's abilities were completely different. She was like a mirror, a mirror that could reflect the inner thoughts of others. Those emotions, that madness, were not created by Arturo, but rather the so-called human heart—

Noah had heard a saying before: in this world, everyone is a little crazy at heart.

In fact, this is indeed correct. Madness and rationality can coexist. In most cases, the superego can restrict the id and discipline itself with secular etiquette, dogma and morality, but what Arturo did was to free the id from those constraints.

Those constraints allow people to become human beings instead of mad beasts, and Arturo is like a catalyst in a chemical reaction. He does not participate in the reaction, but can catalyze the occurrence of the reaction.

Compared to myself...Arturo is more like the title that the world used to describe me.

A witch who plays with people's hearts.

The madman played music, and her audience was already immersed in their own emotions, even Viviana was distracted. At this time, Noah reached out and touched Viviana's hand, transmitting his Originium skills through the [Gray Matter] unit floating around him. Fortunately, Viviana's spirit was not fragile. With Noah's help, she quickly came to her senses, but just a moment of emotional experience had already made her sweat profusely.

"We must stop her!" Viviana clasped Noah's hand tightly. "Noah, what should we do?"

"..." Noah pondered for a moment. He did have an idea, but this idea might be... a little too noisy?

A big part of the reason why Arturo was able to create such a scene was because of the special structure of the concert hall. This structure, which could amplify music and Originium skills, was of great help to Arturo. What Noah wanted was to simply make the concert hall lose this amplifying effect, but this would definitely destroy the structure of the concert hall. This was the oldest concert hall in Leithania's history, and it was likely to develop into a diplomatic issue.

Even Viviana was shocked when she heard Noah's idea. It was indeed simple and crude, and could definitely solve the problem, but Viviana shook her head after careful consideration.

"No, the damage to the concert hall's structure is likely to cause damage to the building itself. There are so many listeners inside, what will happen to them?"